Lorraine Kelly
When the sun is blazing and the sweat is starting to break your skin after your first KM, choosing the right running kit to take you across the finish line or nail your training session is essential. With the right gear, it’s entirely possible and even enjoyable to keep running through the heat.
Choosing the right materials that are purposefully designed to help runners stay cool, dry, and comfortable when the temperature soars is key to surviving the heatwave while training consistently.
Brands such as the women’s activewear brand Bimble & Bolt pride themselves on creating running shorts and socks that are made from moisture-wicking materials and breathable fabrics to keep you consistent during the summer heat.
Runners should be on the lookout for brands that incorporate high-performance, moisture-wicking fabrics at the core of their clothing design.
Unlike basic cotton, which soaks up sweat and clings uncomfortably, choose a brand that uses lightweight, technical synthetic blends such as recycled nylon, polyester and elastane.
These fabrics pull moisture away from the skin and dry quickly, preventing that soggy, heavy feeling on a hot run.
Choosing the right fabric paired with garments with strategically placed mesh panels and ventilated zones increase airflow, allowing heat to escape and cool air to circulate. This breathability is crucial when outdoor temperatures spike, helping regulate body temperature and reduce overheating.
For many of us, the heat can not only cause us to sweat more and get hotter quicker, it can also lead to chafing. Brands like Bimble & Bolt combat chafing with flatlock seams and buttery-soft linings in their shorts, reducing friction.
When it comes to socks, an often overlooked but essential piece of kit to consider in the heat, athletes should look to those made from blended performance yarns with anti-blister padding and seamless toes to keep your feet cool and protected mile after mile.
A final component of your summer run kit that you should be looking out for is pockets. Whether you’re heading out for a long run or a shorter 5km, you will likely need to carry some form of rehydration or fuel to keep you going in the heat.
While many women’s running shorts and leggings contain enough pocket space for perhaps half a key, Bimble & Bolt’s shorts have pockets-a-plenty to help you store your nutrition to keep you hydrated and fueled while out on the trails or roads.
So, to run in the sun as comfortably as possible, whether you’re training for a marathon or fitting in a 5K before breakfast, choose moisture-wicking synthetics such as spandex, polyester and elastane.
If you can find a brand that incorporates eco-friendly fabrics like recycled nylon, which are not only breathable and quick-drying but also kinder to the planet, then you’re onto a winner!
